Buncrana's Jack Larry ‘over the moon’ to reach Glór Tíre semi-final

There was jubilation across Donegal last night as Buncrana native, Jack Larry McLaughlin, was announced as the fifth semi-finalist for the TG4’s long-running, hit Country Music show, Glór Tíre.

The 23-year-old veterinary nurse, farmer, and Country musician saw off stiff competition from three other competitors to win the public vote on the show's first live broadcast of its 21st season.

“I'm over the moon,” says Jack. “It couldn't have been done without the public vote, so I want to take the chance to say a big thanks to the people at Donegal and all over the rest of the country for voting for me. Being on Glór Tíre is one of the best experiences I’ve had in the music scene.”

READ NEXT: Glenties councillor Brian Carr appointed to the Northern and Western Regional Assembly

Jack impressed the show’s judges and the viewing public with his rendition of ‘The Rose of Castlerea’, a personal favourite of both Jack and his family. “Singing it always gets a good reaction out and about at the dances, so that was the reason I chose it,” he says.

Despite Jack’s assured performance on last night’s Glór Tíre, he admits he was nervous. “I was nervous to be honest,” he says. “Closer to the time the nerves kept increasing but I got through it and it was a success anyway, thank God.”

Jack will appear in the Semi-Final of Glór Tíre on TG4 on Tuesday 8th April at 9.30pm, alongside fellow semi-finalists Marion Kelly (Limerick), John Mullan (Co Derry), and Paddy Treacy and Conor Owens (both Fermanagh).

Jack is already preparing for that show and knows the people of Donegal are rooting for him. “Anything that happens in Donegal, like in the sports, the people come out for you. It’s a very supportive county,” he says, “and not forgetting family and friends, they’ve all been wonderful. We’ll keep practising away and keep at it on the social media, sharing things as much as we can on Facebook and Instagram.”

Jack works as a veterinary nurse and also keeps a small flock of lowland cross ewes and purebred lanarks. Will the farming life have to take a temporary backseat as he prepares for the next episode of Glór Tíre? “I dare say we might get a couple of days off to get things organised,” he laughs.

The 2025 Glór Tire Semi-Final will be presented by Aoife Ní Thuairisg. Resident judges Jó Ní Chéide of RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta’s, and singer Caitriona Ní Shuilleabháin, will be joined by guest judge, Eddie Rowley, of the Sunday World.